Kendrick Lamar Wins Pulitzer Prize for ‘DAMN.’

Kendrick Lamar has been awarded the 2018 Pulitzer Prize in Music for his critically-heralded album DAMN.

Pulitzer’s website celebrates the album as a “virtuosic song collection unified by its vernacular authenticity and rhythmic dynamism that offers affecting vignettes capturing the complexity of modern African-American life.”

K-Dot joins an esteemed group of artists who’ve won the Pulitzer Prize in Music. Past winners include Du Yun, Hendry Threadgill, Julia Wolfe, John Luther Adams, and Caroline Shaw.

But Kung Fu Kenny is also in a class of his own. He is the first rapper and first non-classical or jazz artist ever to win the award, according to Business Insider.

The New York Times, The New Yorker, The Press-Democrat, and The Washington Post are among other Pulitzer Prize winners this year.

TDE President Terrence “Punch” Henderson also celebrated the news on Twitter. “Pulitzer Prize winner Kdot from Compton,” he wrote. “I bet not ever hear one of you niggas speak with anything less than respect in your mouth for Kendrick Lamar. #TDE.”

Pulitzer Prize winner Kdot from Compton. I bet not ever hear one of you niggas speak with anything less than respect in your mouth for Kendrick Lamar. #TDE